Among the suggestions included in the study were plans to improve the promenade which it says “presently has all the underfoot appeal of a poor quality car park and is badly lit”, these plans have now been approved.

Caernarfon's Slate Quay

Harbourmaster Richard Jones, 41, said: "The talk of developing the area goes back 20 years or more with numerous plans, none of which came to fruition, but now there's a fresh approach.

“We're looking at a more organic approach, starting with the places that are easier to develop and these will then act as a catalyst for further development of the site over time.”

"We’re working in partnership with the Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council, Cadw and other stakeholders. The Caernarfon Waterfront Steering Group has been set up to oversee the project and there are several separate areas where work is currently on-going.

"What we're trying to achieve is to make the most of our assets on the waterfront; the history, the amazing location on the banks of the Menai Strait, the World Heritage Site of the castle and town walls, the Welsh Highland Railway. All these things make Caernarfon unique and we need to make the most of these assets.

"This is seen as the next stage in the regeneration of the town.

“Work is now underway on the promenade to secure the sea wall, re surface the prom, light up the town walls, install new street furniture and create a seating area next to the sea wall, including bespoke Welsh Oak seating based on ships frames, which have been designed by Howard Bowcott, an artist from Penrhyndeudraeth.

Caernarfon Harbourmaster Richard Jones

“Also the HMS Conway anchor and other artefacts from the former Maritime Museum will be moved to the promenade area to create an interesting feature.

"This phase should be completed by April depending on our old friend, the weather. Unfortunately, the prom will be closed for a period as it's better to do it in one go rather than stages.

"We really hope that it attracts the town's residents and visitors to the area. This is a heritage-led project and we hope to build on the history of the site in a way that makes Caernarfon a more interesting and rewarding place for both residents and visitors alike.

"Other work has commenced on the buildings on Island Site on Slate Quay, which is currently an eyesore. This is work to make the site safe and protect buildings of historical interest in the short term, whilst work continues on plans for the regeneration of the site. We hope that this work will also improve the appearance of the site.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are investing in key developments on the Caernarfon Waterfront alongside a number of partners who are committed to building on the area’s historical past and physical environment to deliver a better future. Almost £1m is being invested in regenerating the waterfront to encourage more visitors to the town and transform the promenade area into a world class space.

“The programme of work includes resurfacing the promenade and developing a new seating area, relocating maritime artefacts from the museum to the promenade to create features of interest, lighting the town walls, creating a cycle route along the promenade and providing an events area at the northern end of the promenade.”

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The Editor

Mark Thomas

Liverpool-born Mark joined the Daily Post in January 2014 after seven years as editor of its Merseyside sister title the Liverpool Post. He started out as a weekly news reporter on Wirral Newspapers, and spent seven years at the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. He was The Press Association's regional correspondent for North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire from 1983 to 1997, before returning to the ECHO as deputy news editor. He has won a number of journalism awards, including the UK Press Gazzette Regional Reporter of the Year award, and in 1993 wrote a book on the James Bulger murder.